Pot lifter



March 23, 1937. G P, RANDOLPH 2,074,429

POT LIFTER Filed Oct. 30, 1935 INVE TO. I '1 I ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POT LIFTER Application October 30, 1935, Serial No. 47,444

1 Claim.

This invention relates to lifters for pots, pans, receptacles and other articles and has for an object the provision of an integrally formed device constructed of sheet metal and provided with portions adapted to engage the upper and lower portions of a bead which is usually formed on open receptacles and a pair of arms adapted to engage the exterior of the receptacle at points below the bead, whereby when the device is applied to a receptacle the same may be readily lifted and carried from one to another point.

Another object is to provide a lifter forthe purpose mentioned which is made of tensioned ma terial so as to eliminate the necessity for springs and accessory parts, thereby rendering the lifter capable of being manufactured at a minimum cost and of simple and durable design. Other objects may appear as the description progresses.

I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred form of lifter embodying my invention, subject, however, to modification, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side View of the lifter with the arms thereof extended as when the same is not in use;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the lifter applied to a pot and in compressed position, the lifter and a portion of the pot being shown in section.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that my improved lifter is formed of a single sheet of metal, preferably of spring material such as tempered steel, and has two arms A and B of substantially uniform length and normally disposed at an angle to each other, said arms being joined at a central point C by bending the sheet of material of which the device is made. Preferably both of the arms are perforated at D so that the lifter may be hung on a pin or the like when not in use.

The forward end of the upper arm A is extended at l and bent downwardly at 2 so as to overlie the bead 3 of a pot P while the forward end of arm B is bent upwardly at 4 so as tounderlie the external portion of said bead. I prefer to form arms A and B of angular cross section, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of reinforcing the same against bending and thereby providing greater rigidity and. durability than if the arms were of fiat cross section.

Arm A has laterally formed extensions 5, 5, which are bent downwardly so as to permanently overlie the lower arm B and serve to prevent later distortion of the arms relative to each other. Said extensions 5 have heel portions 5 and toe portions 1, said toe portions being extended forwardly to a greater extent than the portions 2 and 4 and the extremities 8 of toes I are bent inwardly in the direction of each other at a point where they engage the wall 9 of the pot P for the purpose of preventing the marring of the external surface of the pot. Heels 6 are bent inwardly at H] beneath the arm B for preventing the distension of arm B beyond a normal and necessary degree.

It will be noted that the lip 2 of arm A and lip 4 of arm B are of substantial width so as to firmly grip the bead 3 of the pot and the arms I are slightly inclined on their forward edges to conform to the usual taper of the pot. Thus, when the device is applied to a pot, as shown in Fig. 4, the arms A and B are firmly gripped in the hand and are sprung together so that while the upper lip 2 is engaged with the top of bead 3 the lower lip 4 will be engaged with the lower portion of said bead and the toes 8 of arms I will frictionally engage the wall of the pot at points below the bead and prevent the detachment of the lifter as long as pressure is applied to the handle formed by the tensioned arms A and B.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a pot lifter, opposed tensioned arms joined at certain ends and free at their other ends, lips at said free ends being bent in the direction of each other and adapted to engage upper and lower portions of the rim of a pot, extensions formed on opposite sides of one of said arms and extended downwardly alongside and beyond the edges of the other arm, toes extending forwardly from the extensions and adapted to engage the exterior surface of a pot below the rim thereof and beneath both said arms, and portions extending inwardly from the lower ends of said extensions and underlying the second named arm.

GUY P. RANDOLPH. 

